Arizona Wildcats 11th in USA Today coaches poll

The first USA Today men's basketball coaches preseason poll has been released, and the Arizona Wildcats are ranked 11th.

Arizona, who earned a total of 411 points, is the highest-ranked Pac-12 team, ahead of No. 13 UCLA. Indiana tops the poll, and is followed by Louisville and defending champion Kentucky.

It's worth noting that the Wildcats were ranked 16th in the same poll one year ago, before ultimately finishing the year with a 23-12 record and first round exit in the NIT.

The optimism around the program is largely due to having one of the Pac-12's deepest rosters. Led by seniors Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom and Mark Lyons, the Wildcats also added one of the nation's top recruiting classes.

The season will unofficially begin for the Wildcats October 21, when the school hosts the its Red-Blue game.